News-Antique.com - Feb 22,2010 - Gray’s Auctioneers will inaugurate the 2010 auction season on Saturday, February 27 with one of the auction house’s most anticipated offerings to date. The featured lot is a remarkably rare late 15th/Early 16th Century Franco-Flemish Gothic Biblical Tapestry fragment depicting the life of David the shepherd boy who became the King of Israel. The tapestry includes the depiction of courtly figures with lavish robes and headdresses in a field of flowers. The panel may have formed part of a larger narrative tapestry depicting the life of King David. This type known as a stage-set or altar tapestry is characterized by jeweled columns separating various life scenes. A similar tapestry illustrating “The Virtues and the Vices” may be seen at the Detroit Institute of Arts. The offering of this incredible work has garnered much attention, and promises to be a particularly exciting moment in the sale.
Other needle work will be presented as well: a charming collection of embroidered samplers stitched by young girls from the 18th, 19th and 20th century show the evolution of children’s education through alphabets, stitched imagery and poetry.

Another high note in the auction will be the offering of a bronze sculpture by the Impressionist painter and sculptor, Edgar Degas. Entitled Le Tub, the work features a woman reclining in a basin, bathing. Truly one of Degas’ seminal sculptural works; the piece has a colorful past. From having been found in a warehouse, damaged by fire; to being verified by the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Curator of European Sculpture, Mrs. Clare Vincent, as well as the world’s leading authority on Degas sculpture, Walter Maibaum.
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Additional sculpture offered for sale is a Bust of John Carroll by Cleveland sculptor William McVey. The bust is a miniature of one that is held in the collection of the John Carroll University. McVey’s work is held in collections nationwide. McVey held a number of teaching posts including assignments at the Cleveland Institute of Art and Ohio State University.

Among the other fine arts offerings will be the oil on canvas painting “Arc de Triomphe” by Andre Gisson (American 1928 – 2004).

Gray’s February auction is also notable for the over 100 lots of stunning jewelry pieces featured. These include a beautiful and rare David Webb Ladies 18 kt. yellow and white gold diamond melee ring. Another David Webb piece offered is a unique ruby and white enamel frog ring. A striking single strand necklace of 8mm Tahitian grey pearls will also be sold. The necklace is particularly beautiful for the subtle pink overtone of the pearls.

Of course, the offerings don’t stop with artwork - incredible furniture and decorative items further illustrate Gray’s current catalogue.

Among the furniture offered is a Chinese walnut dining suite by Edward Wormley for Dunbar; the lot includes the extension table as well as 10 dining chairs. Two other Dunbar lots round out the dining configuration including a Chinese walnut 2 drawer cabinet, and a 6 drawer silver chest.